Transcript Highlights:

• The local, state, and regional economies and the industrial tax base that supports these communities
• Regulations for Class VI should be based primarily on geologic siting, operation, and security, as well
• One of the reasons is just a simple numbers game.
• administration was not serious about a holistic approach to clean energy and favored toxic Chinese-based
• industrial operators that are the lifeblood of the community in terms of economics and industrial tax base

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• fees, but if we are going to pay these fees, then if we are going to be required to play the same game
• It would be a game changer for us to have this.
• We were told to get in the game or get the hell out. It didn't level the playing field.

Bills: HB2139 , HB2253 , HB3632 , HB4171 , HB4309 , HB4508 , SB760 , SB1470

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Assistant state attorneys receive an increase of $10,000 to their base rate of pay.
• To their base pay.
• We increase the base student allocation by $85, or 1.58%.
• It receives $10 million in the base budget.
• I'm good with higher education now based on your responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we landed on these alternatives that are before you based on really several key factors.
• on income, it would be based on residency, other factors... ...that would be based on income, it would
• This is a lot at this stage of the game to roll out.
• They're grounded in evidence-based research and nexus studies.
• They're grounded in evidence-based research and nexus studies.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and so, you know, over time this law has changed and been updated based on people's experiences.
• It's lifespace-based crisis intervention.
• It's lifespace based crisis Heal.
• Um, just based on the conversations we're having, and I totally understand the idea of not wanting to
• </c> &gt;&gt; Thank you, Madam Chair. um just based on &gt;&gt; Thank you, Madam Chair. um just based

Transcript Highlights:

• The program code um based on the move.
• </c> that I've had is a price is a base that I've had is a price is a base match.<01:12:17.600><c> So
• And so anything that we can do that is based on removing barriers across the board, that's not identity-based
• </c><02:16:11.599><c> on</c> be losing some of that support based on be losing some of that support based
• So, it's identity based interventions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So maybe we could move on to the actual business in front of this committee instead of pursuing the games
• excluding non-voting members is required I have appreciated that we don't usually play those kinds of games

Transcript Highlights:

• ones we've already been dealing with, it got up to the Senate and just, I think we got hung up in gaming
• Perhaps that will... in gaming last year. Perhaps that will not happen again.

Bills: HB2 , HB27 , HB54 , HB49 , HB58 , HB40 , HB38 , HB43 , HB2 , HB27 , HB40 , HB38 , HB43 , HB54 , HB49 , HB58

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not tied to the taxable value based on your property taxes.
• And for clarification, it was based on a calendar, right?
• And so that's all deliverable based there. Salary and benefits, that's our request.
• Where is the cloud-based host?
• Under the Florida Gaming Control Commission, Representatives Owen and Yarkowski.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services on the My Safe Florida Home program, the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot, and the Florida PALM financial system replacement project. For My Safe Florida Home, Stephen Fielder explained the wind-mitigation grant program, including its inspection-first process, two-to-one matching grants for most homeowners, low-income exemptions from the match, and eligible improvements such as roofs, clips/straps, water barriers, and opening protection. He reported roughly 109,000 initial inspections, nearly 59,000 grants approved, 31,000 final inspections, 25,000 reimbursements, and about $240 million paid out through the end of 2024. Members asked about premium savings, contractor pricing, fraud, owner-builder eligibility, reimbursement timing, and whether the program should have a dedicated funding source; Fielder said the program is currently closed, more than 40,000 people have signed up for updates, and the office has seen some price-gouging and impersonation issues but no major fraud trend. The committee also discussed the new prioritization rules that took effect July 1, 2024, which direct grant awards by age and income. Fielder said the program used a survey of existing applicants to implement the new priority groups and that the first group was over age 60 and low-income. Members raised questions about how premium reductions are measured, whether insurance company changes or rising insured values affect the data, and whether the program can track long-term outcomes after reimbursement. Fielder said the office reports raw premium changes based on declarations pages, knows the insurer for participants, and has validated results with multiple insurers, but does not track homeowners after they leave the program or enforce continued insurance coverage. For the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot, Fielder said the program is modeled on the home program but uses association-level applications, a maximum grant of $175,000 per association, and a similar two-to-one match. He said the application window opened briefly in November and was closed quickly because available funding could be exhausted and the department is prohibited from creating a waiting list. He identified several needed statutory changes, including better distinguishing condos from single-family homes, adjusting roof requirements for flat concrete roofs, and revisiting the unanimous unit-owner vote requirement, which he said has been a major obstacle. Chair Lopez noted the pilot is intended to be a learning process and thanked DFS staff for identifying implementation issues. The final presentation covered Florida PALM, the state’s effort to replace the 40-year-old FLAIR accounting system with a PeopleSoft-based financial management system. Fielder and PALM Director Jimmy Cox said the project began in 2014, the state contracted with Accenture in 2018, cash management went live in 2021, and the project was paused in 2022 for legislative review and remediation. They said the system is expected to go live in 2026, possibly in July rather than January, and that the project has spent about $225 million to date, with a current-year budget of about $60.9 million and a projected next-year request of about $64 million. Members asked about cybersecurity, cloud hosting, project scope, and whether the system is unique to Florida; staff said the system is not Florida-specific, access is credentialed through agency identity management, and the cloud host location is confidential. After the presentations, Chair Lopez assigned members to work with specific agencies on budget review meetings, asked them to discuss agency structure, priorities, staffing, waste reduction, and other budget issues, and set a deadline to report findings in the first week of regular session. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• overseas, met each other's families, and bonded together through the gauntlet of the legislative softball game
• overseas, met each other's families, and bonded together through the gauntlet of the legislative softball game
• We all have different definitions based on life experience, background, creed.
• Why do we miss birthdays and ball games and bedtimes for a job that doesn't always say thank you?
• I was born and raised on U.S. military bases in Okinawa, Japan, came to the United States for the first

Transcript Highlights:

• Beale and based in Redlands, is a maker of small-batch citrus marmalades and botanical goods inspired
• So know that stripping Democrats of their committees and power is the next game and rule of attack.
• These regional centers introduced a person-centered service model based on cultural humility and community
• model... ...for the nation, establishing California as a leader in disability rights and community-based
• and reaffirms the Legislature's commitment to sustaining and strengthening California's community-based

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then spent much of the session on floor privileges and recognitions. Members welcomed a delegation from Catalonia on the 40th anniversary of the California-Catalonia sister-state relationship, Solano Community College’s speech and debate team, and several small business honorees, including Royal Clothiers and Old California Botanicals. The chamber also recognized Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones for his advocacy on democracy and voting rights, with multiple senators speaking in support of his visit. On business, the Senate confirmed Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Laura Ederton Speed as Executive Director of the State Bar, both by unanimous 35-0 votes. The body adopted SCR 163 designating May as California Tourism Month, highlighting tourism’s economic impact, and SCR 170 declaring Firefighter Mental Health Awareness Week, with extensive testimony from senators about the trauma firefighters and first responders face and the need to reduce stigma and expand support. The Senate also adopted SCR 174 marking the 60th anniversary of California’s pilot regional centers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, emphasizing the system’s role in community-based care. The Senate adopted SR 111 recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia after extended debate focused on LGBTQ rights, hate violence, and the need for allies to speak out; the resolution passed 26-0. The chamber then approved a second-day consent calendar of multiple bills by 34-0, moved SCR 116 to the inactive file, granted reconsideration on SR 111 for a later session, and heard motions to adjourn in memory of Carl Anthony and Lupe Estrella. The Senate announced committee hearings and then adjourned to reconvene Monday, May 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Beale and based in Redlands, is a maker of small-batch citrus marmalades and botanical goods inspired
• So know that stripping Democrats of their committees and power is the next game and rule of attack.
• These regional centers introduced a person-centered service model based on cultural humility and community
• model... ...for the nation, establishing California as a leader in disability rights and community-based
• and reaffirms the Legislature’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening California’s community-based

Transcript Highlights:

• Founder of Atkin Development, a Los Angeles based architectural and construction management firm.
• Pascual is a visionary founder and CEO of Insomniac, a global entertainment company based here in.
• I'm also proud to introduce another California-based EDM leader, Kobe Dannon.
• Kobe is the founder and CEO of Framework, a Los Angeles-based nightlife and event production company.
• He never missed a game, recital, or family milestone.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was based on the statute. He swore that everything provided it was true.
• Make sure that microphone is on its down at the base.
• There's a button don't base. >> Great men trying to say thank you. >> My name is Roland San.
• Supreme Court based on First Amendment grounds, freedom of speech at the direction of the Florida Supreme
• But in base for says State bar of Arizona, the Supreme Court said, you know what I think we said about

Transcript Highlights:

• He's out of state right now, and I haven't been able to touch base with him.
• Gallian would just recommend, based on Mr.
• I want an abatement of my property taxes based on this state law.
• I want an abatement of my property taxes based on this state law.
• That's based on the Attorney General's opinions.

Committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• This one is really more broad-based and captures more folks.
• Some counties have more of a commercial base. Some counties have more of a residential base.
• There are some serious questions. ...tax base is drastically reduced.
• More than 80% of our tax base is residential and largely homesteaded.
• It's not going to be based on need. It's going to be based on politics.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• be determined exempt based on new information collected by county eligibility workers.
• And then second, California currently implements CFAP based on that federal option.
• But they work in low-wage jobs with unstable hours, inconsistent skills. Thank you. Over here.
• And what's the base funding for that?
• on the immigrant and undocumented populations and based on geographic regions.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services opened its first hearing of the year with a discussion centered on CalFresh, the Department of Social Services, and related anti-poverty and immigrant services programs. Chair Jackson framed the hearing as a response to the “historic and enormous challenges” created by H.R. 1, emphasizing that the committee’s goal was to minimize harm to vulnerable Californians. No votes were taken in the hearing. The first major topic was the impact of H.R. 1 on CalFresh eligibility and administration. CDSS estimated major federal funding reductions, with hundreds of thousands of Californians potentially losing benefits under new time limits and work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, and additional losses among certain non-citizen groups. County welfare directors, eligibility workers, SEIU, and other advocates argued that counties are underfunded and understaffed to implement the new rules, and urged release of the previously authorized $20 million General Fund, a county match waiver, and an additional ongoing workforce investment. LAO and the Department of Finance said they were reviewing the administration’s proposals and emphasized the need to use existing data, automation, and statutory direction to reduce administrative burden and improve implementation. A second panel addressed county administrative backfill and the broader fiscal effects of H.R. 1. CDSS explained that the law shifts more administrative costs to the state and counties beginning in federal fiscal year 2027 and could also create future state benefit costs tied to payment error rates. County and food bank representatives warned that many counties will struggle to absorb the higher match and that penalties tied to payment error rates could worsen budget pressure. Members pressed Finance and CDSS for clearer timelines, written responses, and more detailed workload assumptions, while Finance said it was still analyzing the federal guidance and county resource needs. The final major topic was the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and possible state responses for people losing federal CalFresh eligibility. CDSS said CFAP remains limited by statute and by the federal structure it currently uses, but that the planned expansion to Californians age 55 and older regardless of immigration status remains on track for October 1, 2027, subject to funding. Immigrant advocates urged the state to fold newly excluded humanitarian immigrants into CFAP and to invest in outreach and administration, while Western Center on Law and Poverty proposed a broader state-funded anti-hunger response for people cut off by H.R. 1. LAO noted that the CFAP expansion is difficult to estimate and that further policy and technical work would be needed to assess costs and implementation options.

Transcript Highlights:

• act or whatever the case may be, something which is really hard to argue with, then it becomes fair game
• c><00:11:22.720><c> it</c><00:11:22.880><c> becomes</c><00:11:23.279><c> fair</c><00:11:23.600><c> game
• </c><00:11:23.920><c> if</c><00:11:24.160><c> the</c> ...then it becomes fair game if the bill doesn't
• fish officer, officer, game and fish officer, if<01:32:36.000><c> they</c><01:32:36.320><c> are</c><
• Um, the bill that Select Committee craft was based off of similar legislation that we've done in this

Transcript Highlights:

• They do get a certain percentage allocated, um, based on how much they work.
• In simple financial terms, based on 2024 wages paid, Jordan's portion would be $69,000 if we are able
• So based on the little bit you know now, what is going to hit January 1?
• </c><00:53:12.119><c> on</c> change Midstream after that so based on change Midstream after that so based
• off of individuals' FTE, or just allows us to administer based off of our existing contracts.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Summary: The committee opened by approving the January 16 and January 21 minutes. Members then heard testimony focused on the impact of Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) and the proposed paid family and medical leave program on Minnesota school districts, with the chair framing the hearing as an opportunity to hear from major employers and school leaders about costs and operational effects. Kimberly Lewis, speaking for the Minnesota School Boards Association and related school administrator groups, said districts generally already provide generous, locally negotiated sick leave and had initially adapted to ESST by separating vacation, sick time, and ESST into different buckets. She argued that a 2024 law effectively converted previously bargained sick leave into ESST, which she said undermines contracts, creates large unfunded costs, and may raise constitutional contract-clause concerns. Lewis cited large accumulated leave banks in some districts, increased sick leave use, and estimated significant costs from paid leave, including a reported $2.5 million impact for one large district. She urged flexibility such as prorating ESST for midyear hires and part-time staff and exempting coaches, short-term substitutes, and similar employees from ESST. Superintendent Anarie Fuco of St. Michael-Albertville said her district expects about $400,000 in added fiscal 2026 costs from ESST and paid leave, plus indirect costs from substitute coverage and increased absenteeism. She said schools already have generous bargaining agreements, but the new laws reduce verification and require districts to track leave for temporary staff, creating what she described as a need for “substitutes for our substitutes.” Fuco said the district would face more than $211,000 in direct payroll costs from paid leave alone and asked for flexibility or exceptions for districts already offering comparable benefits. Members asked follow-up questions about how substitute teachers accrue leave and how many districts may be cutting budgets; Lewis and Fuco said many districts are making cuts and that substitute and staffing burdens are growing. A third testifier began by Zoom, but the transcript cuts off before her full testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• By purchasing this as an asset for the Service Oklahoma home base that we have.
• That means that fiduciary has responsibility to get compensation based on the returns.
• Representative, what military bases are we talking about, and where are they located at?
• Representative, what military bases are we talking about, and where are they located at?
• Yes, McAlester, Altus, Enid, Fort Sill, and Tinker— all of our military bases here in Oklahoma.

Summary: The House considered and advanced a large package of bills, many on joint committee reports, with most measures passing by wide margins and several emergency clauses approved. Early debate centered on HB 4036, which moved $5 million from an existing filmed-in-Oklahoma account to a new revolving fund for the “Bringing Sitcoms Home from Hollywood” pilot program. Supporters said the money was surplus, still controlled by the film office, and intended to create jobs and a strong return on investment; opponents questioned whether the funds should instead go to other state needs and whether the program had enough workforce and infrastructure. The bill passed 53-42, but its emergency failed. The House also passed HB 471, which creates state support for federal “Trump accounts” for children under 18, after debate over federal control, investment risk, and whether the $12.5 million could be better spent on child care, schools, or other services; it passed 61-30 and the emergency failed 62-27. Several education, transportation, and public safety measures then moved through with little or no opposition. HB 4030, described as the education limits bill, passed 93-1 with its emergency. HB 4065 and HB 467 each appropriated $93,000 for security at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics and the Schools for the Blind and Deaf, respectively, and both passed unanimously or near-unanimously with emergencies. HB 4038 directed $5 billion for the eight-year transportation plan and $266,000 for safer school zones; HB 4048 transferred PREP funds to three road projects; and HB 4031 moved up to $41 million into the long-term aerospace and aeronautic stability fund. HB 4047, which used PREP funds for a rural economic development project, fairgrounds upgrades, and university energy improvements, drew the most discussion over whether the spending was truly rural-focused, but passed 81-11 with the emergency approved. The House also approved a series of capital, justice, health, and workforce-related bills. These included HB 452 to buy the Service Oklahoma building it currently occupies; HB 4041 for a two-year trafficking victim pilot program and public safety technology; HB 4056 and HB 4057 for OSBI and narcotics headquarters/warehouse facilities; HB 4044 for current National Board Certified Teachers; HB 4032 on mining fees and agreement language; HB 4034 to raise court reporter compensation; HB 4050 reducing employer contributions while keeping retirement funds growing; HB 4053 and HB 4054 for flagship university capital projects; HB 4072, a public finance/accounting measure involving the Invest in Oklahoma Board and Revenue Stabilization Fund mechanics; HB 4045 and HB 4046 creating military-related funds to support bases and BRAC-proof installations; HB 4040 establishing oversight and a revolving fund for rural health transformation federal money; and HB 4051 clarifying legislative control over the FMAP rate preservation fund. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support and emergency clauses, and the chamber ended with announcements of committee meetings before adjourning until April 15, 2026.